|
Last Friday, March 14th, RCLLG members heard from Madeleine Poling and Rebecca Heisel of the Great Plains Institute on fleet electrification for local governments!
Charging Smart Program
Rebecca Heisel spoke on the Charging Smart program, which provides free technical assistance to help communities set and achieve electric vehicle (EV) readiness goals. The program offers one-on-one meetings, monthly informational sessions, and resources to support EV adoption. Did you know nine Minnesota Cities received the first “Charging Smart” designations in the nation?
Fleet Electrification
Maddie Polling then discussed fleet electrification, including the benefits of 1) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, 2) lowering total cost of ownership, and 3) simplifying maintenance schedules. She explained the different types of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, including Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging. Maddie also highlighted the importance of coordinating with utilities to optimize charging times and costs. She noted that public charging infrastructure is available throughout Minnesota, with over 2,000 charging ports, and recommended choosing a single charging provider for ease of connection.
Lastly, Maddie mentioned current federal and state incentives for electric vehicle adoption and shared lessons learned from a fleet study. She encouraged attendees to explore the Drive Electric Minnesota resource database for more information. A Q&A was held following the presentations; check out the recording to hear about environmental impacts and more!
| 
